Draw-bridge signal



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. N. WILLIAMS.-

DRAW BRIDGE'SIGNAL.

No.298,64'7. Patented May 3,18 4.-

2 t e e h S .w e e h S 2 S M A I L L I W N m (No Model.)

} DRAW BRIDGE SIGNAL. No. 298,647.

Patenfied May 13 1884.

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JAMES N. \VILLIAMS, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

DRAW BRBDGE SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,647, dated May 13, 1884:.

Application filed February 23, 1884.

To wZZ whom zit may concern:

Be it known that 1, James N. WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draw-Bridge Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in signals for draw-bridges, and has for its object to prevent accidents, either in railroads or on common roads where draw-bridges occur, by indicating to approaching trains or vehicles whether the draw is open or closed, attsuch a distance from the bridge that the train or vehicle may be stopped in time should the draw be open. This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a drawbridge provided with my attachments, as en1- ployed for railroad purposes. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a gate provided with a signal and the means of being automatically opened and closed by opening or shutting the draw-bridge. Fig. 3 is a plan of the gate and part of the draw-bridge, together with the approaching roadway leading thereto; Fig. 4, a detail view of one of the rollers attached to the drawbridge, by means of which the latch mechanism of the gate is operated. Fig. 5 are detailed views of the rollers attached to the drawbridge, by means of which the opening and closing mechanism of the gate is operated. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the gateposts and cross-piece, and shows the construction of the latch rod and hooks. Fig. 7 is a section of a part of one of the gateposts, of one of the catches, rod, and hook, engaged therewith; also a hook in dotted lines indicating its position when lifted clear of the catch. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of a part of the gate and one of the posts, and shows a part of a catch and one of the hooks. Fig. 9 is a view of the signal to be employed when placed at a distance from the gate and bridge.

The letter A indicates the railroad-track.

B is a friction-roller journaled to the arm B, which is secured to the upper frame of the draw-bridge, and is intended to bear uponthe lever h when the draw is either opened or closed, and thereby lift the rod together (No model.)

with its hooks i, and thus disengage the hooks from the catches b and permit the gate to be opened or to be closed.

D is a friction-roller journaled in a vertical position to a forked arm, D, which is also secured to one of the upper frames of the drawbridge, and is intended to engage with a forked arm, 0, which is firmly secured to the rod d, forming a part of the frame of the gate E, and is the axis upon which it swings. When the draw is opened, this roller D enters the fork of the lever O, and bears against the inside of one of the arms of the fork, and by this means the gate is gradually closed, and is held in this position by the catches b and hooks \Vhen the gate is closed, the danger-signal a is brought to a right angle with the road, and indicates to the engineer of the locomotive or the driver of the vehicle that the draw is open. The signal may be of any convenient shape, and of any desired color. It has an opening in the center provided with a hook, a, for the purpose of hanging a lantern to be seen at night.

The gate,whenused on railroad draw-bridges, may be of light construction and of any convenient shape to carry the signal a.

The posts S S are connected at the top by a cross-bar, t, which serves the purpose to form bearings for the rods (1 and g, and to add greater firmness to the posts S S but if found in the way, it may be replaced by some other appliance for the same purpose.

If it should be preferred, for railroad purposes, a may be dispensed with, and be replaced by a signal placed at some distance from the bridge and operated by wires or their equivalent, placed either above or below ground, (in tubes or other receptacles.) When this construction is employed, I attach ayoke, WV, to the rod (1, and another yoke, \V, to another rod, secured to a post placed at the desired distance from the bridge, and connect the ends of the'yokes with each other by means of wires W, (as described above.) I then employ, as a signal, a ballor disk, Y, secured to the end of the horizontal arm Y, attached to the vertical rod Q, as shown in Fig. 9. The ball or disk is provided with ahook, by means of which a lantern is suspended, (to be seen at night,) and a screen or cover, Z, to hide the signal when the draw is closed. These attach= ments can be applied to any bridge now up without making any changes.

The fastenings of the gates, when closed, are such that they cannot be unfastened or opened, except by the turningof the draw back to its original position, thereby securing them from being tampered with while the draw is open.

The yokes W W may be substituted by a drum on either the rod Q or the rod d, or by drums (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9) on both of these rods, and the connecting-wires W by chains or wire rope's.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is- 1. The arm 13, having roller B journaled thereto, and the upper frame of a draw-bridge, in combination with lever h, rod 9, having latching mechanism, and gate E, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The forked lever 0, rod (1, and gate E, in combination with the forked arm D, having roller D journaled thereto, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a draw-bridge gate, the lever 71, in combination with the rod 9, having hooks 'i,

as described, and for the purposes set forth. v

tially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Y J AMES N. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

JOSEPH ESPALLA, J r., PHILLIP T. FARRELL. 

